New Arena to Bring Home Games to Campus

By Katie Chappell

CSUSM's new multipurpose arena will open in fall 2016.

Cal State San Marcos will begin construction on a more than 1,400-seat multipurpose arena to open in fall of 2016.

The state-of-the-art, on-campus arena promises to become another hub of student life at CSUSM, complementing the recently opened University Student Union and bringing all athletic events to campus. In addition to hosting home games for men’s and women’s basketball, and women’s volleyball, the new facility will be used for campus recreation opportunities, lecture series and numerous community events.

The arena will be located adjacent to the current athletics facility, the M. Gordon Clarke Field House, and will supplement current athletic and campus recreation services. Included in the first phase of construction are locker and team rooms for the volleyball and basketball programs, general student-athlete locker rooms, LED lighting, visitor locker rooms, an athletics lounge, a media room, a full-service concession stand, a laundry room and an expanded sports medicine room.

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The arena will be a place where our students and community can come together to cheer on our teams and show their Cougar Pride.

“The positive momentum for CSUSM’s athletics programs continues as we move to NCAA Division II status and begin construction on our new multipurpose arena,” said President Karen Haynes. “The arena will not only enhance our visibility and enable us to bring our games home—where they belong— but it will be a place where our students and community can come together to cheer on our teams and show their Cougar Pride.”

Phase 1 of the arena construction project has already been funded through student union fees, the Clarke’s reserve funds and repayable bonds. CSUSM is seeking philanthropic opportunities for Phase 2 to further enhance and expand the facilities.

The plans for the arena were approved by the California State University Board of Trustees at their May meeting. Construction will commence in early 2015 and be completed for the start 2016-2017 Cougar volleyball and basketball seasons.